The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-12

means a state of the utmost woe, and ruin,
and desolation, to which these impenitent
cities should be reduced; for in the wars be-
tween the Romans and the Jews, these cities
now found of Bethsaida, ChoraZin or Caper-
naum." He observes: "The day of judg-
ment of Sodom and Gomorrah was the time
in which the Lord destroyed them by fire and
birthstone out of heaven."-J. W. Hanson,
ID. d.
The declaration is not that the inhabitants
of Capernaum shall be eterrally punished,
but that Capernaum itself, which was the
chief commercial city of the Sea of Galilee,
should not have its expectation of future
greatness realized, but should be obliterated.
The prophecy has been SO literally fulfilled
that the very site of Capernaum is matter
of uncertainty.-Re Lyman Abbott.
comparison of privileges suggested de-
grees of retribution. The Saviour's eye saw
the critical day in the history of the favored
cities of Galilee, when the principles of the
people should ripen to their historical result;
and their fate would be less tolerable than
those of Tyre and Sidon and Sodom respect
lively. Tyre and Sidon still remained, though
only with vestiges of their former greatness.
Sodom had been suddenly destroyed, without
time for suffering The Galilean cities shared
in the miseries and overthrow of their land.
We are not to forget that the names of these
cities are used to signify, not the walls and
houses which we're grouped together and SO
named; but the people who lived in them.
The people suffered in the ruin of
their cities. In the violences and dearths
and famines, which attended their civil doom.
In such cases the innocent necessarily suf-
fer with the guilty, not by arbitrary infiction,
but by the law of society. When the loving
COP set the solitary in families, and families
in society, He made them necessarily sub
ject to the influences, evil as well as good, of
their neighbors. And Notwithstanding the
suffering and sorrow which sometimes come
to US through the social law, its blessings
more abundantly compensate for them.
We cannot always scientifically trace the
connection between unrighteousness and
the doom of a nation or city. The laws of
human duty and intercourse, of morals and
government. are too complex to be easily
followed. But even material malign results
are said, by prophetic inspiration and inter
probation, to flow from great wickedness.
Such was the destruction of Sodom and Go
morrah. Their overthrow, Judging from their
history, was a blessing to the world.
If miracles did not convince the people of
Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum of the
Messiahship, what was their use, and what
becomes of their argum ent for their reality
founded upon their necessity? They did con-
vince some, and thus laid the foundation of
the Christian Church. They were not of the
kind to satisfy the majority, of whom we
cannot conceive as being ready for the re-
ception of the Divine kingdom. Besides,
though they were proofs of JESUS Divine
mission, they were not done to prove any
thing. They flowed naturally out of his life.
Having the power, he used it, just az we may
use any of our faculties, for the benefit of
those with whom he came in personal con-
tact.-ReU. G. l.. DemGi est, ID. ID.
But JESUS does not dwell upon the SORROW
ful circumstance he had announced. There
were other facts that were occasion for re-
joicing. In response to the sad truths he had
declared, he states exultingly that the prog
ress of the Divine kingdom was in accord
ancewith the Providential method. The rulers
and teachers, the wise and the influential
had not believed on him; but the sincere and
simple-minded common people Tbabesl had.
JESUS acknowledged the Divine wisdom, and
heartily rejoiced in its providential methods.
In great religious movements the law of
growth appears to be from below upward.
All the great moral and spiritual reforma-
tons that have blessed mankind have begun
with the common people and in obscurity.
Luke records this thanksgiving of JESUS in
connection with the joyful return of the sew
enty tx. Ply. The fact that GoD had blessed
their ministry and his among the common
people who heard them gladly, was the occa-
sion of thanksgiving and praise. Though the
naughty scribes and Pharisees had refused to
acknowledge his Divine claims, he rejoiced
that these had believed and hoped in him,
and he beheld in their hearty acceptance of
his truth foundation for his kingdom, from
which it might increase to universal domin-
ion. He was thankful, not that the wise had
not discerned his truth, but that they having
failed to understand and embrace it, it had
been revealed to the understanding of the
simple minded and hearted, who received him
as their religious teacher and spiritual guide.
The language is Hebraism frequently met
with in the Scriptures xii. 1; Romans vi. ~.
JESUS reyerently acknowledged that the pro
motion of his kingdom by those who were
but beginners in religious knowledge and ex-
perience, rather than by the recognized
teachers of religion, was in accordance with
the Divine will and pleasure.
The New Kingdom was not to rest on the
theology of the schoolmen of the day, or an
official authority, or on the sanction of cor
rupt Church, or on the support of privileged
classes, but upon child-like faith and humble
love. 1t was not to spread downward, from
among the powerful and Influential, but to
rise from among the weak and ignoble, the
poor and lowly, who would receive it in love
and humility. 1t was to spread upwards by
no artificial aids, but by the attractions OF
its own heavenly worth alone. 1t was vital
condition of its nature that it should, for it
can only be received in sincerity where its
unaided spiritual beauty wins the heart
DR.. ID. Giekie.